EXPLANATORY NOTE

This enactment amends the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act to prohibit classes of foreign fishing vessels from fishing for straddling stocks in the NAFO Regulatory Area in contravention of certain conservation and management measures.

The Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization ("NAFO") is established by Article I of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, done at Ottawa on October 24, 1978, Canada Treaty Series 1979 No. 11. The definition "NAFO Regulatory Area" in this enactment is based on that Article.

Moreover, this enactment adds provisions empowering the Governor in Council to make regulations providing for the classes of foreign fishing vessels to which the prohibition would apply, the species of straddling stocks in respect of which the prohibition would apply and the conservation and management measures with which the vessels must comply. These measures may be taken by the Governor in Council to ensure that the effectiveness of NAFO conservation and management measures is not undermined.

This enactment also amends the enforcement provisions of the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act in support of the prohibition.